The Churches in Europe

An editorial by Card. Josip Bozanic, archbishop of Zaghreb, vice-president of CCEE (Council of European Bishops’ Conferences), dedicated to the new evangelization for the continent (cf. SIR Europe n. 61/2011), opens the second 2011 issue (May-September) of “Litterae Communionis Episcoporum Europae”, CCEE four-monthly publication with the cooperation of SIR Europe. The current issue presents a “balance” by president Cardinal Péter Erdo on the past five years at the lead of the ecclesial body, and a contribution by the Secretary General Msgr. Duarte da Cunha, on Third Millennium CCEE. Along with a summary of the initiatives that involved the Episcopal organism over the past four months, the news bulletin, as customary, reports on the activity of COMECE and the Council of Europe, while a dedicated section (Wide Angle) focuses on the initiatives of European Bishops’ Conferences, of which follows a synopsis. Each issue of SIR Europe presents ample news coverage of the activity of European Churches.Albania. During the bishops’ plenary assembly (Tirana, 10-11 May), the prelates discussed a range of issues that included the CCEE Plenary, scheduled to take place in the capital of Albania from September 29 to October 2, the Catholic University, the question of the restitution of the goods of the Church and the population census. The Bishops’ Conference took the decision to allow the use of the Roman Missal for a specific period ad experimentum. The prelates hope to have the publication available in Albanian by 2012, marking the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Belarus. Cardinal Kazimierz Swiatek died on 21 July in Pinsk at the end of a long illness and at the age of 97. The Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Minsk- Mohilev and former Administrator of Pinsk, was a victim of the Fidej Testis Gulag. On 25 July, following the modification to the laws concerning in-vitro fertilization, the Belarus Bishops’ Conference issued a statement in which it recalled that the conception of a child must not become an object of laboratory experimentation and manipulation. About 700 Belarus youths attended the WYD in Madrid.Bosnia Herzegovina. During their plenary meeting held past July in Banja Luka the bishops decided to establish a Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith, whose president is Msgr. Dr Ratko Peric, Bishop of Mostar. Four sisters from the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity, called “The Martyrs of Drina”, killed on 13 December 1941, will be proclaimed Blessed on September 24. The solemn beatification ceremony will be presided over by the delegate of His Holiness, Cardinal Angelo Amato. Bulgaria. On 1 May 2011, Divine Mercy Sunday, in the city of Belene, in the diocese of Nicopole, the diocesan bishop, Msgr. Petko Christov consecrated the first chapel in Bulgaria dedicated to Divine Mercy. To mark the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius, on 24 May, a delegation composed of members of the Government and from the world of culture, led by the President of the Bulgarian National Assembly, Zezka Zacheva, was received in audience by the Holy Father Benedict XVI in Rome. Cyprus. The Franciscan Missionary Sisters have celebrated the 150th anniversary of the foundation of their Congregation. The Archeparchy, through its St Ephraim Theological Centre, held a variety of meetings to examine in depth the questions in the Lineamenta with a view to the Synod on the new evangelization. There was a significant presence of parliamentarians and Orthodox. An Orthodox representation brought an ecumenical atmosphere among the groups of Cypriot young people who participated in the World Youth Day.Croatia. On May 23 the President of the Croatian Bishops’ Conference Msgr. Marin Srakic, and the Prime Minister, Jadranka Kosor, signed an Agreement on Catholic schools: two primary and twelve secondary schools. During his visit to Croatia (June 4-5) Benedict XVI Benedict XVI presided at a magnificent prayer vigil in the presence of more than 50,000 Croatian youth. The Holy Father presided at Mass on the occasion of the National Day of Croatian Catholic Families, attended by about 400,000 people. On 25 June the President of the Croatian Bishops’ Conference, Msgr. Marin Srakic, congratulated the Prime Minister, Jadranka Kosor, on the completion of the Croatia’s EU accession negotiations. On 27 June the Bishops’ Conference Iustitia et Pax Commission published a Statement on Intolerance towards Catholics in the Croatian Republic. Russian Federation. The II Diocesan Conference of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow, with the participation of 150 priests, religious, and lay people, was held past May. Also in May took place the Plenary Assembly of the Inter-denominational Consultative Commission of the Churches and Christian communities in the Russian Federation and some neighbouring countries. More than 2,000 youths took part in the WYD in Madrid. Greece. The Greek Bishops’ Conference has prepared “A vademecum for priests”, considered the dramatic consequences for the Catholic Church caused by the hard and unjust taxation of dioceses imposed by the Government’s new fiscal laws which put the Church increasingly in the impossible position of fulfilling its pastoral obligations and pursuing its social activities and carrying out works of charity. The Bishops have expressed their profound disappointment because the Minister of Finance ignored the letter they had sent him. 186 youths took part in the WYD. Latvia. On 29 May, in the “Pokrovskije vorota” Muscovite Cultural Centre, there was an event in honour of the Latvian Bishop Boleslavs Sloskans, accused unjustly and tortured in 17 Soviet prisons between 1927 and 1933. On 20 December 2004 John Paul II recognised the heroic virtues of Boleslavs Sloskans in the Decretum super heroicitate virtutum. 14 and 15 August in Aglona saw the traditional celebrations in honour of Saint Mainrad and the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Over the two days, about 240,000 people participated in the celebrations in the national Latvian shrine. All the Latvian bishops were present, as well as the Apostolic Nuncio. Lithuania. The Plenary Assembly of the Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference took place in Telsiai in June. Main agenda items included the new evangelisation. The participants at the Assembly then discussed the document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published to assist Bishops’ Conferences prepare guidelines for cases of child sexual abuse. In this regard, the bishops will set up a working group, involving also representatives of male religious Orders. In 2012 Lithuania will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the beatification of Msgr Jurgis Matulaitis. The Lithuanian bishops have decided that 2012 will be proclaimed the year of Blessed Archbishop Matulaitis encouraging a deeper awareness of the Blessed and his work, especially the spreading of Catholic social doctrine in the country, and for founding several religious orders. Malta. The result of the referendum on divorce held last May was a great shock for the Maltese Church, even if the forecasts were in favour of a “yes” vote, although with a small margin. During the campaign there also developed, through the media, a battle against the influence of the Church in social life, allowing the old resentments to re- emerge and re-opening many wounds caused by sexual abuse or other mistakes. After the condemnation, by the Civil Court, of two priests, accused of having abused 11 children who were under their care about 20 years ago, Archbishop Paolo Cremona, once again publicly asked for forgiveness and met abuse victims. Discussions are on-going about possible adequate compensation. Moldova. Preparations for the “First Social Weeks of Catholics in Moldova” due to be celebrated in October in Chisinau, are under way. Participants will include pastors from different parts of Europe and international experts in the social field. In these months, there have been some meetings of a pastoral and presbyteral nature, which have served to better outline the pastoral programme of the Moldovan diocese, always with the aim of joining forces in one ecclesial route. The themes constantly recalled by the bishop are those of formation and catechesis, liturgy and prayer, charity and social commitment. Pastoral social work remains the sector of greatest commitment, especially for the necessary fight against poverty.Nordic countries. In Norway, after the attack of July 22 in Oslo, the Norwegian Church was a point of reference, with Oslo Cathedral as a meeting place. On 19 August Bishop Bernt Eidsvig celebrated a Funeral Mass for the victims in a packed cathedral church, attended also by various politicians and representatives from the diplomatic corps. A study of Catholic parishes was presented in Denmark past June. Working groups were then established with the task of examining specific problems identified in the report such as evangelization, family pastoral care, Catechesis.Slovenia. The Slovenian bishops have prepared a document entitled “Leading brothers and sisters to Jesus”, which contains guidelines for the drawing up of the long-term Slovenian Pastoral Plan. 1 September 2011 sees the beginning for the Church in Slovenia of the pastoral year dedicated to the social doctrine of the Church, which has as its theme “Justice in charity”. To this end a brochure has been published, containing the basic concepts of the Church’s social doctrine and it will be distributed to the faithful attending Sunday Mass. The first liturgical Memoria of Blessed Alojzij Grozde was celebrated on May 27 with various events, in particular the solemn translation of the relics to the main Marian shrine in the diocese of Novo Mesto (Zaplaz). Turkey. In the presence of civil and religious authorities, the first anniversary of the murder of Msgr. Luigi Padovese (June 3 2010), who generously served and gave his life for the Turkish Church, was celebrated in Iskenderun. The same afternoon, the Greek-Catholic in Iskenderun, restored at the expense of the authorities and Mgr Franceschini, was re-opened with a moment of prayer.